Filing device



Nov. 17, 1910 F. PO TER I 3,540,786

, FILING DEVICE Filed Sept. 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANK POTTER Nov. 17, 1970 POTTER 3,540,786

FILING DEVICE Filed Sept. 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK P0775? 3,540,786 FILING DEVICE Frank Potter, Syosset, N.Y., assignor to Filing Systems, Inc., Syosset, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 3, 1968, Ser. No. 756,906 Int. Cl. B241 17/14 US. Cl. 312-484 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to filling devices and more particularly to a device adapted for insertion in a conventional file drawer to facilitate the filing of correspondence or the like therein.

Heretofore, file insert sections for file drawers comprised the conventional frame with hanging sections or dividers provided therefor to alphabetize or otherwise segregate the contents or records to be filled therein.

Such frame and file separations are admitted to be old. However, such dividers readily slid or moved whereby difficulty arose in using the dividers for separation of the records into a retrievable group. Further, the prior sliding filing system permitted groups of records to bunch or congregate in unwanted groupings and thus interfere or disturb the pattern of filing necessary for easy retrieval.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the invention resides in the provision of a filing system incorporating a hanger frame adapted to be disposed within a conventional file drawer and adapted to receive novel dividers that engage a novel stationary base that locates and predetermines the location of the dividers within said drawer.

Another object is the provision of a base of the class described having means to lock the divider or dividers in the selected position in the frame while being utilized for filling or record separation purposes.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel base having said locking means incorporated therein.

Yet another object of such base means is to provide such means with a selectivity to permit ready removal and reinsertion of the divider in accordance with the amount of material to be filed between the dividers.

Another object is to provide a cage and cooperating base with dividers that is adapted to be disposed within conventional drawers of conventional file cabinets without regard to limitations in dimensions of said drawers.

Other ancillary objects will be in part hereinafter apparent or will be hereinafter pointed out as shown in the following drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG, 1 is a perspective view of the filing device disposed within a conventional filing cabinet drawer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the filing device with cabinet drawer omitted to more fully illustrate the elements of the device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a divider utilized in the filing device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of the slotted base and a cooperating divider.

FIG. 5 is a cross section detail taken along line 55 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view detail of the divider United States Patent 0 3,540,786 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 "Ice tabs cooperating with the novel base to secure the divider to the base.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 generally designates a conventional filing cabinet having plural drawers 12, 14, and 16. Drawer 14 is shown, FIG. 1, in open relation to disclose the filing device 20 disposed therein.

Filing device 20 comprises a supporting frame 22, FIG. 2, having parallel side bars 24-26 supported by vertical end members 28 and 30 respectively. Such frames are well known to those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail. Disposed within the frame 22 is a base 32 and a plurality of dividers 34. Each divider 34, FIG. 3, comprises a substantially flat rectangular member having oppositely extending projections 36a and 36b disposed adjacent to the top margin thereof. Projections 36a and 36b are adapted to reside upon the respective side bars 24 and 2-6 of the frame 20 for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

Disposed at opposite ends of the lower margin of divider 34 are a pair of depending tabs 38 and 40 respectively. Each of said tabs is provided with a rectangular aperture 42, the purpose of which will be hereinafter pointed out.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, base 32 comprises a sheet metal member formed with vertical side walls 44 and a horizontal top wall 46 therebetween. Top Wall 46 is further formed with a pair of longitudinally disposed V shaped recesses 48 and 50, respectively. Recesses 50 are each provided to reinforce the base 32 and are formed to a depth equal to the height of side walls 44.

The recesses 48 are formed to a depth substantially less than the depth of recesses 50 for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

Disposed transversely in base 32 in aligned relation are plural rows of slots 52 extending through top wall 46 and formed recesses 48.

Adapted to be inserted in selected parallel slots 52 are tabs 38 and 40 of divider 34. When so inserted, the lower margins of apertures 42 in tabs 38-40 of the vertically aligned divider 34 are disposed below the apex of each recess 48. Movement of the inserted divider in angular relation forwardly or backwardly positions the lower margins of apertures 42 of tabs 38-40 under the apex of each recess 48 to secure the divider in the base and prevent removal of the divider from the base.

Obviously, when the dividers 34 are disposed in the base 32 in the aforesaid manner, records disposed therebetween urge the dividers to an angular relation, thus preventing accidental displacement of the dividers.

It will be noted that the base 32 is not secured to the frame 24 or to the drawer 14. Therefore, to prevent movement of the base when drawer 14 is opened or closed, there is provided a pair of expanders 60 which longitudinally extends the base 32 to snugly fit the particular dimensions of the file drawer in which the file device 20 is utilized.

While there has been shown and described but a single embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that modifications and changes could be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a filing device adaped to be inserted in a file cabinet drawer, including a frame, a base, and plural dividers:

(a) means to removably secure the dividers to said base, comprising (b) plural rows of slots disposed in spaced aligned relation and formed in said base,

(c) a longitudinal recess formed centrally in each of said plural rows of slots,

(d) tab means depending from each of said dividers in co-planar relation to the plane of the divider adapted to be inserted in selected slots in said base,

(e) said tab means with a through aperture adapted to receive the recessed portion of the base adjacent to the slot in which the tab means is inserted when the plane of the divider is tilted away from a perpendicular relationship to said base to secure the divider in the tilted position to said base,

(f) and said longitudinal recess being formed in a V shaped formation having a predetermined depth.

2. In a filling device as set forth in claim 1,

(a) and said depending tabs having a dimension that defines the lower margin of the aperture therein that is greater than the predetermined depth dimension of the V shaped recess.

3. In a filling device as set forth in claim 2,

(a) and said base having side walls, and said side walls having a vertical dimension greater than the depending dimension of the tabs.

4. In a filing device as set forth in claim 3,

(a) and the aperture of each of said tabs having a rectangular shape whereby the lower margin of the tab engages the underside of the V shaped recess in the base when the divider tab is inserted in a selected slot and the divider is tilted away from a perpendicular relationship with the 'base.

9/1935 Australia. 9/1941 Sweden.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.-R. 

